I was out in Hong Kong last week meeting up with Louis and the Luma crew out there. Whilst there I managed to see some of the factories where the bikes and apparel are made and of course a visit to the new concept store which has just opened in Central. Awesome!
I can now say that I look forward to bringing the brand to these shores and opening a concept store in London. Watch this space!
Look around - I’m having a play. Won’t be long until we’re ship shape.
Only 61 days, 13 hours and 00 minutes until the channel launches!!!
LOTS to do!
Its been a while. How time flies when you have your head down and getting on with it!!
Anyway, to dispel the rumours of me going completely mad I think I’d better explain what I’m up to and what the plans for this place are. I chose, last year, to promote John McFaul as an Art Director and Creative Consultant, as essentially, amongst a myriad of other things, that is what I had been doing running McFaulStudio. Since September 2009 I have been working with a new TV channel called Vintage TV about to launch on September 1st on Sky and Freesat platforms. As Brand Director and Consultant I am overseeing the brand across all media - print, web and of course broadcast working closely with ex McFaulStudio genius Chris Malbon. A TV channel, a brand, website (hub) and a huge opportunity for it to be all the things I hope it to be. I don’t think I’d be stepping out of line by saying that this will be cult in no time. Really! The media briefing happened last week and now the story is dissipating everywhere quickly.
Thats half my week - the other is with something else very special which I’m in no position to talk about right now but those of you who know me will understand how passionate I am about what is in the pipeline. A week in Hong Kong from Sunday will confirm whether I’ll putting my all into it so watch this space. Yes - bicycles obviously come into it somewhere! The day had to come!
So - where is the Illustration work you ask? The animation? The customization? The everything else? Where is McFaulStudio??? Well, McFaulStudio will continue to create images and design work. No animation or web stuff per se though. Those days are gone. No - McFaulStudio is a simple affair these days…wonderful imagery and design. Smaller commissions too - stuff McFaulStudio, when it was stomping around all cumbersome and that, couldn’t touch for a long time. In come the lovely book covers and magazine spreads - how I made my name all those years ago. So - thats McFaulStudio - still going but in a slightly different direction. No more to the ‘one-stop-hot-shop’. More refined and particular.
Something which is about to land with a thud is the Octobag with ThisisaLimitedEdition. McFaulStudio’s first object with them. Darren showed me some pre-production samples yesterday and they look great. The production will have some tweaks (logo’s and green stitching gone) but they are going to be hot. Big thanks to Ollie Munden on this - a real labour of love. I miss you fella!
…and in came the first lot of stationery for the new TV channel. Cards and folders in uncoated 540gsm GFSmith paper. Lovely!
There will be much more of this in the coming months as I help take Vintage TV to broadcast and beyond. Watch this space!
Rob Lee is an endurance mountain biker. He also manages a team of endurance athletes. They are quite simply amazing in what they achieve. McFaulStudio got the opportunity to marry Rob’s Syncros Endurance team with another client of ours - Luma. The team isn’t just about riding solo for 24 hours…its about inspiring others and pushing what can be achieved. We were asked to create some (message!) graphics for their kit. A box of it arrived today. Heres a first look:
Today is my first day.
The first day without the amazing team I built to take on the creative world.
I’m now on my own…
…where I was so, so many years ago
before the Industry got hold of me and made me great and then made me pay for it…made us pay for it.
Today is liberating.
A day to reflect on the last 10 years that have consumed my every sinew, turned me inside out and educated the fuck out of me.
10 years (actually more than that)
Older, wiser and with renewed vigor I’m approaching my life more thoughtfully,
more cautiously,
with Rachel and my children in mind.
My happiness and smile the gauge on how well I’m sticking to my path.
Today is my first day.
The first day I can actually see my light.
The first day I can breathe and actually begin to understand who I am and what I REALLY want.
The first day those long runs, rides and swims I do aren’t weighed heavy by stress and panic.
Those epic journeys defined me. I used to do them to escape.
Today I do them to breathe.
McFaulStudio is still here. Just different.
I’m still at the helm but I’ve steered her away towards other places.
I’m back in control.
I’m traveling light too…a must for me now. Me and like-minds. No baggage required!
McFaulStudio: virtual agency. John McFaul, art director and creative consultant.
As you are probably aware…I’ve been organising and curating a two-week event of talk, art and inspiration with howies called A Beautiful Machine. Below is all the artwork submitted (missing a few). All the artwork exhibited is for auction. The proceeds will go to Save the Children – Haiti Earthquake Appeal. Have a browse below and if you like anything call the Bristol shop on 0117 929 8928 and place your bid email them at bristolshop@howies.co.uk
There are a couple of artworks missing but we’ll sort this from tomorrow.
This auction will continue until Friday 16th April in order to gather as much money for the charity as possible. GET YOUR WALLETS OUT!!
We’ll update the prices regularly.
1. A beautiful machine - Whiteduck 56×56cm
2. Red Bike - 33.8×73cm current price - £30
3. Chopper - 41×31cm current price - £15
4. Gold bike - 44×31cm current price - £77
5. Two cartoon characters - 44×31cm current price - £11
7. Ride your BM - 53×25cm current price - £50
8. Skelly rider - 43×33cm current price - £15
9. Mr Fixie - 50×50cm
10. Bike colours - 32×41cm current price - £15
11. Past / Future - 31×22cm
12. Bike & Map - 27×32cm current price - £51.22
13. Enjoy the Ride - 19×19cm
14. ABM wings - 42×52cm current price - £50
15. Heart - 35×35cm current price - £30
17. Fixie photo - 33×24cm
18. Wheel - 31×43cm current price - £20
20. Wheel on Orange - 43×53cm current price - £10
21. T-Shirt - Small
22. Bikeasso - 31×41cm
23. Bikeasso Two - 31×41cm
24. Bikeasso Three - 31×41cm
25. Urban Beach Cruiser - 45×33cm
26. Bike with wooden box - 24×33cm current price - £16.50
27. Polo pink - 15×20cm current price - £26
28. Oil - 25×31cm current price - £10
29. Bicyclops - 36×51cm current price - £52
30. Untitled - 44×44cm
31. Ride it like you won it - 22×31cm current price - £75
32. Reach for the bars - 44×44cm current price - £75
33. untitled - 22×31cm current price - £75
34. Babycrow x Tokyo fixed 50×70cm current price - £53
35. Steel Beauty - 51×41cm
36. One weeks spinning - 70×50cm
37. untitled - 52×42cm
38. We are godmade - 52×42cm current price - £2
39. The evolution of - 31×41cm
40. My first 5 speed racer - 34×24cm
41. Hold - 53×43cm current price - £5
42. Face - 20×25cm
43. Untitled - 45×62cm
44. Gear Shifters - 30×24cm current price - £30
45. Untitled - 52×52cm current price - £30
So…the launch…well, it launched! A petit and bijou affair I have to say but I think it struck the right chord and I hope we can gather momentum over the course of the next two weeks. It seems to be constantly work-in- progress and I like that. We’ve added more speakers to the roster and artwork continues to come in so it can’t be anything but. Friday then, was something of a soft launch and every talk night will be the same, I suppose, building to the climax on the 9th of April. Tim March came and delivered what can only be described as genius. His seated, no-visual monologue was the stuff of legend. Funny, real and passionate…whether he thinks so or not, he set the bar for everyone to come. Thanks mate. Amy and Xanthe from Cyclodelic were there adding a bit of glam to the proceedings delivering an inspirational talk on Cyclodelics beginnings and their take on what NOT to wear for the discerning female rider.
So – it has started. From small things big things grow. The audience is as important as the speakers. There is a message to get across so be part of it. Tuesday evenings talks are an all-female affair with an amazing line-up. You cannot miss it. We obviously want as many ladies there as possible but I think it’ll be interesting for all. Cycling isn’t just for the boys! These girls will show you why!
Buy tickets for An evening with A Beautiful Machine – 02
I’ve been busy!!
When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride. - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Beginning Friday March 26th McFaulStudio and howies have curated a two-week event of art, talk and ride based above the howies store in Bristol. We have reached out to those who ride, those who allow us to ride…and those who want us to ride, bringing us all together in a carnival of bicycle. Those who design and those who draw, those who paint or shoot or sew, those who talk or make, those who fix and those who nurture are all involved as they all share a love of A Beautiful Machine.
Over 50 artists from around the Globe. 15 incredible speakers over 5 evening talks. 1 Bicycle treasure hunt, 1 rather special bicycle auction and 1 Critical Mass. Two weeks in Bristol. A lot of fun.
Let the good times roll!
Keep up with it all here and here
